Gilbert Hovey Grosvenor

Grosvenor, Gilbert Hovey (hŭvˈē grōvˈnər) [key], 1875–1966, American editor, b. Constantinople, Turkey. As director (1903–1919) and later as president (1920–54) of the National Geographic Society and as editor (1899–54) of the National Geographic Magazine, he encouraged worldwide exploration and greatly increased the circulation of his magazine, especially by using colored photographs. While he was at National Geographic the society membership grew from 900 to some two million. He was active in promoting conservation and the protection of wildlife.